PROVINO A.

A detailed study of the magnetocaloric properties of six compounds of the intermetallic family RTX (R = Nd, Gd; T = Sc, Ti; X = Si, Ge) has been undertaken: NdScSi, NdScGe, GdScSi, GdScGe, GdSc(Si0.5Ge0.5) and Gd(Sc0.5Ti0.5)Ge. The magnetic entropy changes at the Curie temperature TC and the refrigerant capacities signal that they are...

In a recent work we have reported the formation and the crystal structure of the new family of compounds R3Pd5 (R = Sc, Y, Gd–Lu; Pu3Pd5-type, oS32, spacegroup 63, Cmcm). DFT calculations for Gd3Pd5 and heat capacity and magnetic measurements for Tb3Pd5, Dy3Pd5, Ho3Pd5 and Er3Pd5 were able to discriminate at least two distinct antiferromagnetic...

The R 3TiSb5 ternary compounds, with R a light rare earth (La to Sm) have been reported to crystallize with the anti-Hf5CuSn3-type hexagonal structure (Pearson's symbol hP18; space-group P63/mcm, N. 193). An early article that reported possible superconductivity in some of these intermetallic phases (namely those with R = La, Ce, and Nd) caught...

The central part of the La-Ni-Si system has been investigated at 800 °C by means of single crystal X-ray diffraction, microscopy and analytical microprobe techniques. The result led to the identification of four new metal-rich silicides: LaNi2Si (R3̄m, a = 4.0263(3) Å, c = 15.066(2) Å, Z = 3), La2Ni3Si2 (P21/c, a = 6.8789(7) Å, b = 6.2167(3) Å,...

A complex optimization of the arc melting synthetic approach was performed to enhance the phase purity of Cr2AlC MAX-phase in the bulk form. Optimization steps included the initial ratio of 2Cr: xAl: 1C, variation through a change in Al content (i.e. x ranging from 1 to 1.5), tuning duration of the post-annealing thermal treatment and...

In this work, we aim to demonstrate the potential of the flux flow instability (FFI) tool as a probe for the evaluation of the quasiparticle energy relaxation time τ in iron-based superconductors (IBS). The knowledge of this microscopic parameter, its temperature dependence and the magnetic field influence, turns particularly useful to...

The local structure of La(Fe1-x Mn x )AsO has been investigated using temperature dependent Fe K-edge extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements. The EXAFS data reveal distinct behavior of Fe-As and Fe-Fe atomic displacements with a clear boundary between x 0.02 and x > 0.02. The Fe-As bondlength shows a gradual thermal...